About IMI - History
The rubber met the road in 1953. That's when IMI founder, Bob Fogal Sr., started working at Pryor's Tire Service in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. By 1956, Bob owned his own tire service center and two area gas stations. Not bad for a 20-year-old just three years out of high school.
Through it all, Bob's business philosophy was simple: "There has to be a better way."
Nearly 50 years later, IMI has developed a "better way" to do many things in the trucking industry. From wheel refinishing, to tire balancing, to tire maintenance software - if it has anything to do with tires and wheels, chances are IMI has found a better way to do it.
1973
International Marketing Inc. is founded by Robert Fogal Sr., who vows to develop "the kind of tire and wheel maintenance equipment this industry needs." The company's flagship product, STS Tire Seal, is unveiled that same year.
1984
New Look Tire Paint debuts. Countless retreaded and repaired tires are reborn with a "like new" tire look.
1986
The Series 2010 Wheel/Rim Refinishing System is introduced, followed 15 years later by the Series 2020 Powder & Liquid Coat Wheel & Rim Refinishing System.
1987
In a variety of standard and custom colors - Showcase Super Gloss Wheel/Rim Paint becomes the first waterborne, one-coat, wheel rim paint of its kind. The finish is available in 12 different colors and can be mixed to create customized color treatments.
1990
EQUAL Tire Performance is introduced, smoothing rides for drivers and saving money for fleet managers nationwide. The dry polymer granules can be injected through the valve stem in just minutes and eliminate the need for lead weight balancing.
1992
Introduced in 1992, the New Look Contour Tire Painter automates the tire painting process quickly, easily and efficiently.
In addition, the IMI Valve Stem Filter Extension is created, protecting the valve core from foreign particles contained in the tire cavity and preventing air loss through the tire valve stem.
1994
The BLOCK Air Line Moisture Filter is designed for pneumatic tools and tire inflation airlines to block all airline moisture and contaminants. The result is reduced down-time, repair and replacement of pneumatic equipment, and point-of-use protection for your tire and wheel investment.
1998
Tracking and organizing tire information is made easier with the introduction of IMI's AUDIT Professional Tire Management System.
The AirX Filtered Valve Core also hits the road in 1998. Described as the most significant advancement in valve stem technology in more than 50 years, the AirX Filtered Core keeps tires at proper inflation pressures, reducing wear and boosting fuel economy.
1999
Installing EQUAL also gets easier in 1999 with the introduction of the EQUAL Drop In Bag. The Drop In Bag can be placed in a tire before it is mounted and will break apart after five to ten miles of driving.
The SNAPSHOT Fleet Tire Survey System, a collection of digital tire data collection tools and user-friendly software, is unveiled, making fleet tire inspections simpler and more accurate.
2001
The Series 2020 Powder & Liquid Coat Wheel & Rim Refinishing System is developed. The Series 2020, a follow-up to the Series 2010, is capable of removing thick layers of wheel and rim coatings while preparing and refining the wheel surface for a proper, compliant and optimum finish.
2002
Laboratory tests by the Pennsylvania State University Center for Acoustics and Vibration confirm what thousands of drivers and fleet managers already know - that EQUAL works as a damper, force reducer and mass balancer and is unmatched as a ride improvement method.
2003
IMI celebrates 30 years of service in the tire and wheel industry. Founder Robert Fogal Sr., remains as the company's chairman with President Robert Fogal Jr., charting the path for another three decades of industry-shaping developments.
2005
IMI introduces the first truly dynamic wheel weight, XACTBalance®. This new, patented technology relies on dynamic media that move and adjust within a thermoplastic cartridge, targeting the exact location of the imbalance and correcting it.
back to top
